Nairobi luxury hotel under attack

The local police in Nairobi, Kenya are now on heightened alert after an attack in the city’s luxury hotel complex.

Gunfire and at least two blasts were heard at the compound in the Westlands district of the city, which houses the DusitD2 hotel as well as offices.

The Somalia-based militant group al-Shabab said it was behind the attack but gave no details.

Four armed men entered the complex, eyewitnesses say.

People have been leaving the site escorted by armed officers. Several people were led out covered in blood.N

Furthermore, the attack began at about 15:00 local time (12:00 GMT).

“I just started hearing gunshots, and then started seeing people running away raising their hands up and some were entering the bank to hide for their lives,” a woman working in neighboring building told Reuters.

Explosions were heard and a plume of smoke rose above the compound, with vehicles on fire in the car park.

“Things are not good. People are dying,” official said in an interview.

There are no details about casualties so far.

Kenyan police chief Joseph Boinnet told reporters: “Armed criminals are holding up in the hotel and specialist forces are currently flushing them out.”